Scientific name: Limenitis camilla

This is a spectacular woodland butterfly, with white-banded black wings and a distinctive delicate flight.

Widespread in southern England, extending just into Wales and northwards. The butterfly has white-banded black wings and a distinctive delicate flight with short periods of wing beats, followed by long glides. It could be confused with the larger Purple Emperor.

Adults are often found nectaring on Bramble flowers in rides and clearings. It is a fairly shade-tolerant butterfly, flying in dappled sunlight to lay eggs on Honeysuckle.

The White Admiral occurs widely in southern Britain and has spread rapidly since the 1920s, after an earlier contraction. However, population monitoring has shown a dramatic decline in the last 20 years for reasons that are as yet unclear.

Size and Family

Family – Nymphalids

Size: Medium/Large

Wing Span Range (male to female): 60-64mm

Conservation Status

Butterfly Conservation priority: High

Section 41 species of principal importance under the NERC Act in England

Section 42 species of principal importance under the NERC Act in Wales

UK BAP status: Priority Species

European threat status: Not threatened

Caterpillar Foodplant

The sole foodplant is Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), usually in shady positions.

Habitat

The butterfly uses shady woodland and ride edges, often associated with neglected or mature woodland where there are sunny glades with large patches of Bramble to provide nectar for the adults. It is found in both deciduous and mixed deciduous/coniferous woodland.